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Thursday, July 25, 2013

How to make a good first impression for an interview

You’ve worked so hard to build up
your resume and establish yourself as a professional. You finally landed the interview
you’ve been dreaming of. Make sure you are prepared for your interview and
ready to make a good first impression to help you get the job. Here is a great
way to make an unforgettable first impression.

You should be prepared with your resume, portfolio, work samples and recommendation
letters. Have all of these things in a neat binder or folder to show you are competent.
If you come empty handed, it won’t make a good first impression because you’ll
look unprepared.

The first thing an interviewer
notices are what you are wearing. You have to dress to impress! It’s better to over
dress than under dressed. Wear pants or a skirt that are professional. Make sure the
clothes you choose fit you and aren’t too tight or too short. It’s essential to
steam or iron your clothes the night before to make sure you don’t look sloppy.

Practice your handshake with family or friends to ensure your grip is firm
enough. A good handshake can go a long way in making a favourable first
impression. Also practice sitting up straight and keeping your hands still.
It’s okay to become excited and use your hands to talk a little, but don’t fiddle
or twist your fingers in a nervous fit.

William Craig, President of Webpage FX said a handshake is what he notices
first during an interview, “You can tell a lot by a person and how they shake
your hand.” William says, “A firm grasp can go a long way, it tells me they’ve
done this before and are experienced in the professional world.”

Speak clearly and slowly while you think about what
you are saying. Be sure not to use filler words like um, uh or likes. Keep your
words professional when you are answering questions, “yes” instead of “yeah”.
When speaking, make sure you are being specific in your answers. Make your experience
as relevant as you can, focus on aspects of your previous job that will help
you in this one. It’s okay to make yourself sound good, this is your chance to promote
yourself and explain how great you did. Ask questions! They are just as
interested in you as you should be about them. It will show you care and are
listening to what they say if you have questions about it.

The admissions office recommends
repeating some of the questions in your answer,so you keep
yourself on track. It’s also a smart idea to say “does that answer your question?”
When you’re, finished be sure you’ve covered what they requested.

They are making an opinion about you from the moment you walk in to when you
walk out the door. Be polite in your exit and thank them for their time. If you
give another hand shake before you leave, make sure it’s just as good as or
better than your first one. Sometimes when the interview goes well, the relief
sets in that it’s over,and people overlook
the importance of an impressionable exit. Leave confidently with a compliment
and a smile. Make sure they know you enjoyed talking to them and you are
looking forward to hearing from them.